The Portland daily press., 1887-08-08
The Cause of the Reproof

HALIFAX, N. D., Aug. 6.-ThiS is the full
text of the circular issued by the Admiral:
Masters of American fishing vessels In Cana
dian waters are recommended to note the follow
ing points, namely:
/. The imperative necessity of reporting their
vessels at the nearest custom house, or to a Do
minion cruiser II one be stationed there, immed-
ately after coming to anchor every time they en-
ter bay or harbor, and to make such a report of
evidence before court in case of controversy.
z. To exercise while within Canadian waters
careful supervision over their crews, and to see
that nothing is taken to or from their vessels ex-
cept with the permission Of the custom house
officer of the port or captain of a Dominion cruis-
3. If siezed or detained for any alleged infrac-
tion of the treaty, fishery or custom laws, they
should immediately report the facts to the near
est United States consul and telegraph the alleged
grounos of seizure to the Consul General at
Halifax.
They should abstain from signing at the request
of any person other than consul or consular
agent of the United Sta tes any papers relating to
the offence charged or the circumstances out of
which 1t arose, nor should they hold any conver-
sation or communication, verbal or written, re-
atng to the caSe with any person other than
Sr Re saes E1
official has any authority TO compel fishermen to
make statements relating to infiingements OF the
law.
4. The United States have renounced the lber-
ty to take. dry or cure fish on or within three ma
Ens miles 3 q any Of the coasts CO pays creeHs or
| ly certain portions of Newfoundland, Labrador
and the Magdalen Islands.
g. The treaty Of 1918 permits American fisher
| men to enter the bays and harbors of the Domin-
ion of Canada for the purpose of shelter and OF
repairing damages therein, OF purchasing WOOD
and of obtaining water and for no other purposes
whatever"
| 8. The Canadian courts have already decided
that the presence of an American fisherman inside
the three mile limit, and not being on his way to
obtain necessary wood. water, repairs or shelter,
is prima facie evidence Of his intention to violate
| treaty obligations by fishing.
7. The fact that the boats and seines of fisher
man have been swept by the tide within the three
mile limit is no excuse for breaking the law.
| 8. The accident Of a sail or piece of canvas
falling over the taffra at once excites the suspi
cion that it is being done to conceal the vessels
| The foregoing points include the principal
| grounds upon which seizures have heretofore
| our hshermca to comply with the terms of the
| Canadian laws, and, In the event of SEIZURE, a
to receive it Will ensure the continued sympathy
s. B. LUCE.
Halifax, N. S., Aug. A. sIl
The third section is framed to prevent a
| repetition of last years experience, when
| with almost every capture made, the selling
| officer secured "a statement from the
American captain, which was construed in
to confession" and was of itself sufic-
lent to convict every. vessel seized without
| there being any need on the part of the seiz-
ing officer to prove the alleged offence
| against the vessel.
| In cases OF future seizure Admiral Luce
desires to place the burden of proof upon the
Canadian officials making the seizure, and
not permit any more vessels to be con-
demned upon the admission of her skipper.
What skipper Mcdonald Says.
LoURIs, P. e. l., Aug. 6.-Captain McDon-
aid of the schooner J. I'll. Perkins, seized for
shipping men in Canadian waters, claims
that he was outside the limit when the men
came on board. The further charge that he
received men while lying in Souris harbor,
he does not deny. There is little doubt but
that his vessel will be fined $500 for each
offense.
The Other Side.
OTTAWA, Ont, Aug. 6.-The Department
of Fisheries has received advices that three
Canadian vessels, the Grace, Dolphin and
W. P. Sayward have been seized in Beh-
ring sea by United States cruisers and
taken to Sitka. No further particulars are
received.